Fresh Cosmetic Composition Delivery System

Abstract

A fresh composition delivery system includes a package with two compartments separated by a foil seal for separating a cosmetically acceptable carrier from an unstable active ingredient. An elastomeric bulb with a dart can be actuated by the user to pierce the foil seal so that the carrier and the active can be mixed in the package to form a composition shortly before use. For the resulting mixed composition, the level of the unstable active ingredient in the composition decreases by less than 6% over 7 days when stored at 25° C. at 60% relative humidity.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fresh composition delivery system comprising:
 a composition comprising:
 a first component including a dermatologically acceptable carrier; and 
 a second component including at least one unstable active ingredient; and 
   a package for keeping the first component and second component of the composition separate before use, the package comprising:
 a tube having a dispensing spout with a cap at a first end and an open second end, a first portion of the tube adjacent the first end defining a reservoir, a quantity of the first component stored in the reservoir, and a second portion of the tube adjacent the second end having an inner surface of the open second end of the tube defining an inwardly directed sealing surface; 
 a cartridge having a tubular body dimensioned to fit closely in the second portion of the tube, the body having an outwardly directed sealing surface for engaging the inwardly directed sealing surface of the tube in airtight engagement, an inner end of the body positioned in the tube such the inner end opens toward the reservoir, an outer end of the body opposite the inner end, a foil inner seal closing the inner end, an actuator membrane located in the body between the inner end and the outer end, the actuator membrane forming a hermetic barrier between the inner end and the outer end of the body, a chamber defined in the body between the foil inner seal and the actuator membrane, a quantity of the second component stored in the chamber, a dart mounted on the actuator membrane such that it projects into the chamber toward the foil inner seal, the actuator membrane movable toward the inner end such that the dart pierces the foil inner seal to release the quantity of the second component into the quantity of the first component to allow for mixing of the composition shortly before use; 
   wherein, the composition so formed by mixing of the first and second components in the reservoir has a level of the unstable active ingredient in the composition that decreases by less than 6% over 7 days when stored at 25° C. at 60% relative humidity.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the actuator membrane is an elastomeric bulb projecting convexly toward the outer end. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a foil outer seal closing the outer end of the body of the cartridge. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the outer foil seal has a tab projecting radially outwardly to facility removal of the foil outer seal from the outer end of the cartridge. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the active ingredient is selected from one of Vitamin C, Vitamin E, oxidation susceptible botanicals, retinol, resveratrol, stilbenoids, tocopherols, retinoids, folic acid, hair dye, a caffeic, chlorogenic, or gallic acid, high polyunsaturated oils, high linolenic acid oils, flax seed oil, raspberry seed oil, cranberry seed oil, black current seed oil, Sysimbrium oil,  Perilla  seed oil,  Camelina sativa  oil,  Salvia hispanica  oil, high linoleic oils, pomegranate seed oil,  Prunus ameniaca  oil,  Juglans regia  oil, hemp seed oil or wheat germ oil. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the active ingredient is in a powder form. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein a force required to move the actuator to advance the dart to pierce the inner foil seal is in the range of 5.6 lbs. to 7.2 lbs. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the force required to move the actuator to advance the dart to pierce the inner foil seal is about 6.4 lbs. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 2  wherein a force required to move the bulb to advance the dart to pierce the inner foil seal is in the range of 5.6 lbs. to 7.2 lbs. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the force required to move the bulb to advance the dart to pierce the inner foil seal is about 6.4 lbs.